Tiago Monteiro Race of Hungary qualifying report

Tiago Monteiro media

Tiago Monteiro shines in qualifying on the Hungaroring

Tiago Monteiro, SEAT Leon WTCC, Tuenti Racing Team

Photo by: xpb.cc

One week after his feats during qualifying on the Slovakia Ring, Tiago Monteiro shone bright once again on the Hungaroring, which is hosting the 9th and 10th races of the 2012 FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC).

On the difficult and very technical track that is the Hungaroring, which the powerful sedans of the FIA WTCC cover in close to 2 minutes, mistakes await the drivers at endless points on the circuit, and it is easy to let tenths of seconds slip away over one lap. Although he does not yet have the new SEAT Leon engine, Tiago Monteiro walked away from qualifying with 4th and 7th position starts for the two Hungarian races.

Despite his power handicap, Tiago Monteiro took advantage of his experience and dexterity on the winding, complex circuit located 20km from Budapest, the Hungarian capital. "We focused our attention and work on qualifying, because we know it is important to be well-placed on the starting grid in order to have a chance of having two good races and securing points," Tiago explained, "I had a good lap and the result is reward for the efforts by the whole team. I am very content because we are closer to the leading drivers," added the Portuguese driver, who managed the feat of signing the fastest time in the first sector.

In the races, the situation could grow complicated on the long term because FIA WTCC drivers will have to cover the Hungaroring 12 times in each race. "The pace we manage to maintain over one lap is not the same as what we can sustain in race trim," Tiago warned. "It will be difficult to hold off the pressure from competitors because they will clearly be faster, but my objective is to resist attacks from my competitors and secure some points."